The shelf life extending effect of different modified atmospheres packages (MAP): vacuum (MAP-1), 69.6% N 2 + 30% CD 2 + 0.4% CD (MAP-2) and 70% D 2 + 30% CD 2 (MAP-3) on lamb meat at two slaughter ages (4 and 8-month-old) was assessed. pH decreased as slaughter age (SA) increased, and increased during longer storage time (ST), with no MAP effects. Lamb meat stored in MAP-1 and MAP-3 showed greater drip loss than that stored in MAP-2. Shear force was not influenced by SA and MAP treatments, but decreased during ST. Meat from 8-month-old lambs packaged in MAP-3 at longer ST resulted in lipid oxidation increase. MAP-2 enhanced color saturation and lamb meat redness, whereas MAP-3 showed lowest redness and chroma values, and highest aerobic psychrotropic count. Meat from 4-month-old lamb stored in MAP-3 presented shortest shelf life based on psychrotropic bacteria growth. The association of higher SA with high D 2 MAP proved to compromise oxidative stability of lamb meat, adversely affecting its shelf life. Vacuum and CD packaging showed similar effects on lamb meat preservation; however, CD had advantage in maintaining fresh red color of meat.